New Build is MESSED UP! Please help!

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DyNe__

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Feb 10, 2002
Messages
2,005
Specs:

1 CASE LIANLI|PC-V300B BLACK - Retail
Item #: N82E16811112113

1 MB BIOSTAR TFORCE 6100 AM2 GF6100 - Retail
Item #: N82E16813138027

1 VGA EVGA GF 7900GT 256-P2-N583-AR - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130032

1 PSU ENERMAX | ELT500AWT 500W RT - Retail
Item #: N82E16817194003

1 CPU AMD|A64 X2 3800+ AM2 2x512K R - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103735

2x1gb OCZ Platinum DDR2-800

20gb WD IDE HD (I know this works, since the new build actually tried to boot a few times into a windows 98 install on it, but I cut it short since I didn't want it to do that). This HD is temporary until my 320gb SATA comes in.


Okay, something is seriously wrong with this system. There are many different problems that I have no clue what the hell is going on, but I think it is the mobo. When I first press the power button, a few fans will kick on but then die off like I never pressed the button at all (it won't boot/post). I press and hold the power button a little longer and things start kicking up and staying on. Here is where the first screwy thing happens. It will either post normally, or it won't post at all and there are no error codes/beeps. When it does post and I go to change the BIOS settings (boot order), after I save to the CMOS it TURNS OFF. It doesn't reboot, just shuts right off. Agan, I go through the shit of trying to get it to finally post, and it eventually does. After EVENTUALLY getting the XP pro cd to boot and allow me to create a partition, it REBOOTS in the middle of a quick format. I go through the shit of trying to get it to boot from cd again, and after a bit i get to the quick format part, and it FREEZES at 20%. It has been sitting here for a little while now, even as I type this post. I think when I come home tonight after a party I'm going to try and take out the 7900GT first since that other thread sounds like a similar problem I'm having. Any help is much appreciated!
 
Okay I am pretty sure this motherboard is broken.
I pulled out the RAM individually, took out the video card, booted without any optical/hd... same symptoms. I tried a few different IDE cables with no luck.

Most of the time the motherboard won't post and there are ZERO error codes/beeps. Safe to say I need an RMA?
 
I don't see how, it has done this from the very beginning. Not only that, but after I leave it for a few hours and come back it still won't work. Resetting the CMOS is weird too, it shuts down rather than rebooting.


edit: filed for an RMA with newegg... so looks like I won't be able to do anything for like 9 business days (3 days shipping there, 3 days processing, 3 days shipping back), plus i'm out cash on shipping. What the FUCK

i also made a 15 minute video of the shit that was going wrong.
 
Have you tried running Ultimate Boot CD just to see if you can stress test it? Have you tried reflashing the BIOS?
 
Firelord said:
Have you tried running Ultimate Boot CD just to see if you can stress test it? Have you tried reflashing the BIOS?
Click to expand...


I have tried to reflash it, but I have not stress tested it. It took me three tries to get it to flash (the first it just randomly rebooted while loading the bios update, the second the screen went all fucked up when it was loading the update, and the third worked). I will try the UBCD since I have the weekend before I have to ship it back.
 
I reckon you could have a corrupt BIOS chip and thats prob whats causing the problems. Would appear that way if having problems reflashing too. Do you have a spare machine wuth same style of CMOS chip? If you have you could try that with a hot flash
 
Firelord said:
Have you tried running Ultimate Boot CD just to see if you can stress test it? Have you tried reflashing the BIOS?
Click to expand...


Tried what I think is the stress test on the UBCD... it was running for about 2 minutes before the PC shut down. The test is called Lucifer v1.0 (System Burn in test).

Near the PCI slots there are a few different red LED's that light up when I turn it on. Sometimes the LEDs labelled D17 and D16 both light up at the same time twice, and then go off. Sometimes there are no LED light ups, and the times where it does post the one labelled D17 lights up quickly, goes off, and then D16 stays on.
 
curtisfong said:
it might be overheating
Click to expand...
^ check your temps in bios. Then check your power rails. Next use 1 mem stick and run it on a divider. All of these would explain random reboots.
 
Its the ram. The default RAM speed is DDR2-800. That OCZ platinum ram needs 2.1-2.2v to run at ddr2-800 speeds. Your default BIOS only goes up to 2.0v and 1.8v stock, which isnt nearly enough. I have this mobo/ram and it happened to me...

Look next to you ram slots in the corner of the board where the power connector is. Theres a small red jumper with white writing that says "+2.2v jumper" switch it to the other pin, or read your manual on how to set it. this will give ~2.16-2.2v to your ram and they should work fine at ddr2-800.
 
Dillusion said:
Its the ram. The default RAM speed is DDR2-800. That OCZ platinum ram needs 2.1-2.2v to run at ddr2-800 speeds. Your default BIOS only goes up to 2.0v and 1.8v stock, which isnt nearly enough. I have this mobo/ram and it happened to me...

Look next to you ram slots in the corner of the board where the power connector is. Theres a small red jumper with white writing that says "+2.2v jumper" switch it to the other pin, or read your manual on how to set it. this will give ~2.16-2.2v to your ram and they should work fine at ddr2-800.
Click to expand...


I will try this when I get home. I was looking through the manual and noticed that, but I did not know my RAM needed to run at 2.1-2.2v. Thanks!
 
Changing the memory voltage did not solve the problem. Again, the major problem I am having right now is the motherboard not posting AT ALL the majority of the time. Sometimes I get lucky and it will post, and then other problems arise.
 
Okay so the new motherboard comes in... same problem :( This must mean that my CPU is broked because the mobo on-board LED indicators say "abnormal: cpu / chipset error".

When I boot up the system 1 of 2 things happens.

1) The pc turns on and both LED indicators flash once and the pc usually turns off
2) The pc turns on and both LEDs remain off

I have the +12v CPU power cable connected, as well as the heatsink fan plug. Anything I am missing?
 
RadCliffeX said:
have you tried a different psu?
Click to expand...

I also think you should try another power supply. Whatever you do I wouldn't stick a questionable PSU in a good machine just to test...I learned that the hard way. :rolleyes:

It may be the CPU but its not very likely.
 
You think that my brand new Enermax Liberty is messed up? :( I wouldn't exactly call it a questionable PSU, but I will try to see if I can get a different one to use.

Hmmm, I have a PSU in my current XP 2400+ machine. It doesn't have the +12v 4 pin connector though, is that power plug required?
 
After looking through all your posts again I think you may be right. Sounds like it may be the CPU since you got a garbage screen while trying to flash. CPU or PSU.
 
I'm not entirely sure, the 4 pin 12v connector was initially a requirement for the P4 but they started showing up on enthusiast AMD boards shortly after. They may have become required but as I know it they aren't required. I'm not entirely sure so lets see if someone else knows.
 
I'm still not 100% but it looks like it's required so I wouldn't try the older PSU unless someone else says otherwise.
 
Well my current NF7-S has that 4 pin connector but my PSU doesn't have it... also my current PSU only has a 20 pin main connector rather than the 24 pin that my biostar uses. Is it possible to still use a 20 pin PSU plugged into a 24 pin mobo?
 
Okay my super awesome killer friend let me borrow his newer PSU and so far the PC is running fine. It looks like my Enermax Liberty is borked.. .hmm
 
DyNe__ said:
Okay my super awesome killer friend let me borrow his newer PSU and so far the PC is running fine. It looks like my Enermax Liberty is borked.. .hmm
Click to expand...

glad everything is working out so far for you. but still enermax is not a questionable psu, just like any other brand, there are a batch of bad ones, you probably got one of them. i have the 620 version and hope it stays ok, knock on wood.
 
Methinks you should have checked the rails like I suggested a dozen posts back.

Read the reviews on Newegg on the Liberty. Lot of problem PSUs.
 
Yeah... bu tthis is messed up now. My friend ordered parts to build his own PC and he got an Enermax Liberty 400w. Since his case didn't show up I was gonna use it till it did.... guess what? The computer won't work again. I'm getting the same problems with his liberty 400w as I did with my liberty 500w.

Is there a compatibilty problem with the Enermax Liberty PSU's and my Biostar TForce 6100 AM2?!
 
K.I.S.S. try some of the other suggestions people suggested. Take me for instance:
^ check your temps in bios. Then check your power rails. Next use 1 mem stick and run it on a divider. All of these would explain random reboots.

Just clicking on "DEL" the next time it boots up and looking at "PC Health status" will tell you alot.
 
The problem is my computer won't do anything with the Enermax Liberty PSU's. It won't post, it won't display anything on the monitor (either through the onboard or my 7900gt). It doesn't beep at all. The status indicator LEDs sometimes both flash once but they remain off the majority of the time.


argh... Okay so both Enermax PSU's work powering an older 20pin motherboard... but not my 24 pin mobo. Could the extra 4 pins on the main power connector be broken?
 
Did you try removing one stick of RAM yet? What about resetting the CMOS? How about running using onboard video?
 
Only other thing I can think of is it could be a grounding issue. Try running the board outside your case.

I would probably RMA the board, after that. They are the easiest component to fail.
 
Well this is certainly an odd situation.. For the most part the motherboard is out of the case. I already got a replacement for the motherboard, and the problems have persisted (the exact same problems). Tomorrow I might be able to do some better testing because I'm going to have extra components due to a friend building a PC. I guess we'll see then.
 
Well, after that week and a half ordeal my PC is up and running. I have a strong reason to believe that the Enermax Liberty's aren't compatible with the Biostar TForce 6100 AM2. I tried both a Liberty 500w (mine) and a Liberty 400w (friend's) on that mobo and it didn't work at all. For further support: my Liberty 500w did not work on both Biostar TForce 6100's that I used (one was an RMA). The mobo did work with a friend's 550w Antec and my recently purchased Seasonic 430w (in it now). Both of the Liberty's worked on 2 other PCs I tested (brand new ATX AM2 rig and an older AMD 1ghz machine).

My suggestion to everyone who buys the Biostar TForce 6100 is to avoid the Enermax Liberty PSUs :)
 
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